Defining a closed-loop US aluminium can supply chain through technical design and supply chain innovation.

A supply chain material flow analysis was conducted for the aluminium can market in the USA consistent with studies conducted for the overall worldwide aluminium industry. A technical definition of the use of alloys 5182 and 3104 was carried out by metallurgists for use in the material flow analysis. Four propositions were developed, technical, economic and supply chain factors are as important to secondary aluminium recycling in an aluminium can as higher recycling rates, the development of a unialloy aluminium can will increase reuse rates, but recycling rates must increase for this to happen, a closed-loop aluminium can supply chain is not able to be fully realised in the current environment but is very useful for understanding improvement through both supply and demand, and used beverage can supply can improve through a voluntary deposit-refund system approach.
A supply chain material flow analysis was conducted for the aluminium can market in the USA consistent with studies conducted for the overall worldwide aluminium industry. A technical definition of the use of alloys 5182 and 3104 was carried out by metallurgists for use in the material flow analysis. Four propositions were developed, technical, economic and supply chain factors are as important to secondary aluminium recycling in an aluminium can as higher recycling rates, the development of a unialloy aluminium can will increase reuse rates, but recycling rates must increase for this to happen, a closed-loop aluminium can supply chain is not able to be fully realised in the current environment but is very useful for understanding improvement through both supply and demand, and used beverage can supply can improve through a voluntary deposit-refund system approach.